Business Coaching...

Would be interested to hear the views of members hear with regard to business coaching - is it something that you have ever used, or would use... if you've had business coaching how did you find it?

Also interested in general views on this and whether people think it might be useful or know quite what it is

Thanks for your thoughts,

David
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Re : Business Coaching

David

Would be interested to hear how business coaching differs from mentoring?

Dan
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Web Design

Re : Business Coaching

Hi Dan

Business coaching is usually a focussed and specifically paid for service and quite a formal relationship. Mentoring is (usually) free and more casual in its nature, and is often less focussed on just business per se and more about having an overseeing and guiding hand that you turn to when you need advice or direction.

Hope this helps

David
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Re : Business Coaching

... and is not to be confused with a life coach, who looks at all areas of your life and not just specifically the business related issues.

I think life coaches tend to get a bit of a bad press - not sure why?

Sasha x

Re : Business Coaching

Sasha

Not knowing any life coaches myself I can't really comment on that, but I know that it used to be said on ecademy at one stage that everyone was either a life coach, and if they weren't a life coach they were a web designer

Dan
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Re : Business Coaching

Hi

I am working towards qualifications in both life and business coaching. A purist would say there is no difference between the two!

Coaching is very different from mentoring. Mentoring has an element of tution/advice from someone who knows their stuff and is helping you with ideas etc. Pure coaching is a mechanism or relationship that helps you come up with your own solutions, turn them into action plans and execute. A pure coach facilitates that process and holds you accountable but does not put their own ideas into the equation.

A lot of the work of a coach is asking challenging questions that help the client to reflect on their situation, often from a different point of view than they had previously. This often leads to "aha" type moments when the client sees something from a different perspective which helps to develop plans and really focus on their goals.

The other side is making sure those plans or actions are watertight - this is not warm fluffy stuff! This very much an "exactly what are you going to do by when" area. In subsequent sessions the client is held accountable for those actions and the results.

I talk about pure coaching here to give you a sense of definition. In reality many coaches coach in an area they do have expertise in and an element of mentoring sometimes comes into it. Most tution frowns on mixing the two. (My advice to you is be upfront about what you want from the relationship. Coaching, consultancy, mentoring etc). Some coaches may offer suggestions but should be very upfront and ask your permission first.

I tend to the business coaching side simply because that is an area of interest but the process is very similar. A lot of business coaching can end up as life coaching. Sometimes people lack motivation in their work lives because of imbalance in other areas or conflict with their values and belief systems.

I have sketched over a big subject here so If anyone is interested in taking this further or trying it out I am coaching people for free at the moment (to get references for my qualifications) so if you want to try it out or simply want some more info then please get in touch.

Paul

http://www.1stprinciplesleadership.co.uk

Re : Business Coaching

Hi Paul

One of the most interesting and clear posts I've read on a business forum in a long time. Thanks for taking the time to post that - very interesting indeed

Chris